Roger Federer clinches 1,200th career win

The 37-year-old Federer will now face Dominic Thiem, who beat the Swiss legend in the Indian Wells final.

“Instead of seeing a things bit more cloudy and rainy, you see it more on the sunny side,” said Federer after winning 6-0 4-6 7-6 (7-3).

“You don’t win matches every day saving match points and it makes you feel good, but it is more relief I feel right now.”

The triumph also means that Federer keeps up his own personal record of never having lost a match after winning a set 6-0. That run now stands at 90 matches unbeaten.

Federer took that first set in just 19 minutes, though Monfils fought back to take the second and a 4-1 lead in the decider. However, he could not close out the match, with Federer successfully defending both on his own serve, rushing to the net to shorten the points.

“I felt not so confident to win the point from the baseline,” he said of his tactics on the match’s major moments. “So I said panic mode is switched on and we are coming in.

“You go to the net as quick as possible so you are as close as possible and I framed the first volley, which ended up being perfect.”